An Overheard Conversation
Last night, after the sun had started setting and the temperature dropped below 95F, Allison and I took Sadie and Kramer (our dogs) out for an evening walk. At one point, we were walking down a long sidewalk that leads to the neighborhood swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts. Across the street on the other sidewalk were three girls who looked to be about 7th or 8th graders wearing bikinis headed towards the pool. A boy around their age was approaching them. As he got closer, he said, "Hey, where are y'all going?" I thought it a dumb question if one considered the three were bikini clad and their direction of travel was in direction intersection with the community pool. One of the girls responded, "Were going to the pool." In my head, I inserted "Duh Huh". The boy then replied, "Cool, can I come?" The girl responded, "Sure!" He then said, "OK, let me go get my swimsuit." And started off towards his house when one of the girls called out, "Bring two more penises!"
Allison and I stopped dead in our tracks. She asked me if she had really heard what she thought she heard. I confirmed the conversation. She then asked if I thought they looked too young to be in High School. I confirmed they looked to be Middle Schoolers at best. We resumed walking the dogs and after a few minutes of quiet reflection, mentally digesting what we had just observed, our conversation picked up on this generation versus ours.
During training for the volunteer position I am beginning, I have learned a lot about how early kids have begun experimenting with sex, drugs, alcohol, and a gamut of other things in life. I have begun to understand how badly today's kids need positive role models. TV and movies certainly are not providing them. Their peers are not providing them. So, I guess it is up to us.
It is high time for a change in our priorities. It is not all about us. How can we make a difference? What can we do for one that we would like to do for all? What can we do this week to have a positive influence on today's kids?
-Peace